Happy 3rd Birthday, Maverick!

Three years ago, our spiderman climbed into our lives and captured our hearts.  Our lives were FOREVER enriched!

Jedi Training Birthday Party

Have I admitted on the blog yet that December 27th isn't the most ideal birthday?  When we first found out we were pregnant with Mitchell, we were ecstatic (to say the least!).  We started counting ahead nine months and quickly realized that his due date would be late December....December 22nd to be exact.  We thought surely this little thing will somehow sense the looming holiday and will come early.  Even if he doesn't come early, hopefully he just doesn't come on December 26th or 27th.  Everyone is so worn out from the holiday fuss on those days, who wants to celebrate a birthday...  Oh, we jinxed ourselves.  December 22nd came and went.  We thought, maybe we'll have a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day baby.  After all who wouldn't want to celebrate their birthday with the perfect, holy child? :)  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day came and went.  Still no action.  So, the doctor chose Mitchell's birthday.  He was induced on December 27th, 2007...and that became the most special day of my life.  Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE all three of my boys equally, but any mom would admit that there is just something SO EXTRA special about that first baby.  I literally never knew my heart was capable of feeling love so deep.  

I was forever changed.

How many of you are thinking, "that is really sweet, but did you mention something about Jedis?"  Sure did!  After Mitchell's Jedi training experience in Orlando, we decided to borrow the theme for his birthday party!  

Because we can still get away with it, we decided to pick a date in between the Mitchell and Maverick's birthday to celebrate both birthdays with one big sha-bang!  

I crafted some cute little light saber invitations to deliver to our guests.  They were a "hit".  Yes, pun intended.

Somehow I convinced my dear mother to spend countless hours sewing jedi robes for all of the kids.  As soon as the kiddos arrived, they were robed.  They LOVED them! 

I couldn't take enough pictures of our almost three year old in his Jedi robe!

Luckily, we had Star Wars costumes that we used for Halloween a few years back.  Didn't Macallan make the CUTEST little Yoda?!?!?

My brother-in-law, Mark, works for the city of Cottage Grove (neighboring city), so he was able to rent a city party room for free.  Yeah!  It wasn't fancy, but there was lots of room to run and play. Perfect!

Table set for cake and ice cream.

The drinks of choice were Yoda Soda or VaderAde.

No Jedi party is complete without light saber napkins :)

 Jacob played a BIG role in the party.  He was the Jedi trainer, self named as Bocaj Nyar.  He later asked me if I knew where he got that name.  I assumed it was from the movie?  Nope.  His name spelled backwards.  Jacob Ryan.  Leave it to my husband.

He completed his Jedi look with ace bandages wrapped around his moccasins.  Again.  Leave it to my husband.

Our youngest Jedi even had a little robe.  We are so happy to be able to share birthdays with my sister and nephew, Grant.  He has his BIG 1st birthday coming soon!

 Once the party was underway, the Jedi training began and light sabers were granted to each kiddo. Jacob, I mean, Bocaj taught them how to "engage" their lightsabers and taught them a fight sequence.

After they were fully trained, we broke for cake and ice cream.  But not for long because Darth Vader made an appearance (also Jacob) to battle the Jedis!  

Luckily, good prevailed once again and we were continued to celebrate with some present opening.

The boys have met some really neat little friends in our new town.  Some are pre-school classmates and some are play-date friends, but they all spoiled our little men and made them feel like the special  guys that they are on their special day.

Layaa giggles like crazy in Mitchell's presence.  Her dad says they hear a lot of Mitchell stories at home.  I can only imagine...

 Jack is one of Mitchell's favorite little friends.  They enjoy silly talking together.  They are perfect play date friends because I really enjoy his mom :)

Blake is Jack's younger brother.  He wasn't too sure about the Jedi robe!

My mom had already spoiled Mitchell on his real birthday, but she gave him money rolls at his party anyway.  He had so much fun unrolling them all to put them in his piggy bank!  We're learning which coins are which.

This is Mitchell's school friend, Maddy.  Mitchell attended her party earlier this year.  Maddy also giggles at Mitchell :)  He is pretty entertaining!  After months of knowing Maddy, Mitchell casually informed me one day that Maddy is missing a leg.  I had never noticed and was a little curious, so I asked if he knew why she was missing a leg.  Mitchell looked at me kind of confused....like I should already know the answer and said "Mom, God makes all of us different."  Wow - one of my favorite life lessons that I have learned from Mitchell.

This is another one of Mitchell's school friends, Karsen.  Karsen calls Mitchell her best friend...and the best part is that she lives in our neighborhood :)  We hope to see much more of Karsen and her big brother, Caden.

 This is Athan, a play date friend that we meet up with often!  Mitchell really enjoys playing with him and I really enjoy some adult time with his mom :)

Zac is another one of Mitchell's school friends.  His mom later told me that he wore his Jedi robe for three full days following the party!  

We also celebrated Mitchell's birthday with his classmates at school.  CUPCAKES!  

Part of me can't believe he's already five, and the other part of me doesn't remember what life was like without him.  I absolutely LOVE being able to stay at home with him each and every day and soak up this last year before he starts Kindergarten this fall.  I talk to Mitchell more than anyone else in my life. I feel like many of his little friends, when I say that he is undoubtedly my best friend.

Let it SNOW!

I never thought I'd say this....but we really are enjoying our winter playland.  It is so fun to have all of these new ways to enjoy the outdoors.  No, we're not outside nearly as much as the summer, but we're not feeling cooped up YET!

We had a heat wave today.  Yep, 30 degrees is a heat wave compared to earlier this week when it was -11 degrees.  Did you catch that negative?  In case you ever wondered, when it is that cold and your son comes home from school and vomits on the garage floor, it freezes instantly.  Isn't that nice?  Just think...had we never moved to Minnesota, I may never have known this wonderful fact.

We bundled the boys up and headed outdoors to enjoy the "warm" weather and fluffly, sparkly snow.

 

 

 

 

Macallan wasn't too fond of his gloves.  In fact, I can't believe we made it home with both of them!

Raise your hand, if you want a turn.

As much as we're enjoying winter, we will be excited to see warmer days!  They look so cute all bundled up, but MAN it is HARD work getting them all bundled up to leave the house.  I am looking forward to the days when I can say "throw on your sandals and jump in the van!"

Animal Kingdom

We had one final day in Orlando...and couldn't decide which park to visit.  We landed on Animal Kingdom and as soon as I set foot inside the door, I was so glad!  It is a BEAUTIFUL park!

Sometimes when my boys are acting up, I find myself thinking "why can't you just behave how you behaved at Disney World?"  Seriously!  They were as close to perfect as they will ever come :)  They shared with each other, they barely argued at all, they listened, followed directions, no meltdowns, very few tears....just truly enjoyable little men.  Sigh.

Given the time of year, there were very few lines, but when there were...they waited like champs.

Did I mention that Jacob often talks Mitchell into going on rides that are a little too scary for him?  

:(

Finally a ride the whole family can go on!

Look at that HAPPY little man! (note the MAP firmly grasped with his hand)  He LOVES maps!  He can't read them...he just loves looking at them and carrying them around :)

The safari ride was my favorite of the day.  Just look at that wildlife...giraffes, zebras, elephants, etc.  Amazing!

I thought this "vine lady" was so beautiful!  She walked gracefully around the park on stilts.  Again, amazing. 

I couldn't help by photograph some of the scenery!

Some map help from the troops

Just look at this make-shift African village we're strolling through on our way to Mount Everest...or Kilimanjaro...oh, who cares, it was a beautiful mountain!  

Don't worry, there were plenty of Disney characters to interact with!

Mitchell enjoyed digging for fossils in the sand pit.

No fossils, but he was happy enough to find a leaf.  Whatever makes his day! :)

We took a family spin on on the water ride...which we all enjoyed, except for the water part.  Maverick got a little too wet for his liking!

Family spin on the pedal cart!

Maverick is in LOVE with his Spiderman shoes!

Maverick was thoroughly entertained by the bird show.  Can't you just see the excitement in his eyes?  I LOVE this picture of him :)

 We all looked forward to the Disney parades!  What fun!

One of last things we did at the Animal Kingdom was the Lion King show.  One of the actors invited Mitchell to join him on the dance floor...he didn't realize the Folks boys are a package deal. Maverick followed too...they entertained the crowd by dancing with the cast :)

 No trip is complete without a family picture with Mickey Mouse!!!!